Best 8 Democratic Education Podcasts in the US

Occasionally funny and periodically informative, Have You Heard features journalist Jennifer Berkshire and scholar Jack Schneider as they explore the age-old quest to finally fix the nation's public schools, one policy issue at a time. more

Over more than a third of a century, Alfie Kohn has offered a multifaceted defense of progressive education as well as research-based critiques of rewards and punishments, grades, standardized testing, homework, competition, and other aspects of traditional schooling (and parenting). Each episode of Kohn's Zone will offer 20-30 minutes of provocative reflections on a topic having to do with teaching and learning — or with human behavior more generally; occasional longer segments will feature conversations with leading experts in education. Watch this space for new episodes, which will appear as if by magic every two weeks or so. You can listen here, or, better yet, on the podcast's home, AlfieKohn.org/podcasts, which offers other resources. And to support us, please visit https://coff.ee/kohnszone. PRODUCTION SUPPORT: Ultraviolet Audio. ART: Abi Kohn. more

Is my child learning enough? When should I step in—and when should I trust? Why do we keep ending up in power struggles when connection is what I want? Can I really raise and learn alongside my child differently when everything around us says I'm doing it wrong? These are the kinds of questions we explore on Radical Learning Talks. Hosted by Sari González and Rebecka Koritz, the podcast looks at what becomes possible when we question what we've been taught about children, learning, parenting, education, and power. Across more than 100 episodes, we talk about homeschooling and unschooling, self-directed learning, deschooling, consent, relationships, adultism, youth agency, and the messy reality of creating a different life with young people. Some conversations begin with the everyday moments happening in your home — screens, conflict, learning fears, boundaries, and knowing when to intervene. Others take us into bigger questions about school, freedom, community, power, and the world young people are growing into. We don't offer one right way to do any of this. We question what we've inherited, look more closely at what's actually happening, and explore choices rooted in dignity, trust, consent, and relationship. Sari and Becka are educators, parents, and longtime voices in the self-directed education movement, with decades of experience in unschooling, alternative education, and supporting families who are learning and living differently. Radical Learning Talks was named the #2 Democratic Education Podcast to Listen to in 2026 by FeedSpot, alongside leading voices in alternative and democratic education. New conversations are released throughout the year. more

Friends. Allies. Americans. Folks taking small steps towards big change. The Defense of Democracy podcast tells their stories. Hosted by Addison K. Witt. Defense of Democracy is made up of people from all walks of life passionately committed to nonpartisanship. We welcome anyone who is interested in protecting their fellow Americans - in particular those in marginalized communities - from oppression. We advocate for legislators, educators, and administrators who will work to maintain communities as well as a public education system that supports and enhances our shared experiences regardless of religious beliefs, cultural background, or sexual orientation. Find out more: https://defenseofdemocracy.org/ Podcast produced by the Volunteers of Defense of Democracy more

Since 2018, the Human Restoration Project Podcast has reimagined education through critical, progressive, human-centered learning. Across nearly 200 episodes, and counting, we've explored every topic in education: ungrading and alternative assessment, interdisciplinary play-based and project-based learning, SEL, education reforms and systemic school change in society with students, teachers, leaders, researchers, and advocates around the world. Join us on our mission to restore humanity to education, together! more

Hello and welcome to Spilling the Tea with CCE, the podcast created and led by Fellows at Hofstra University's Center for Civic Engagement. CCE is a university institute designed to educate students in democratic values by actively engaging them as knowledgeable citizens through collaborative partnerships with their campus, local, state, national, and global communities. Each episode features a pair of Fellows discussing a topic they researched and chose. more

Nothing Never Happens is a journey into cutting-edge pedagogical theory and praxis, where co-hosts Tina Pippin and Lucia Hulsether connect with leading voices in radical teaching and learning. We engage a range of approaches — including but not limited to democratic, feminist, queer, decolonial, and abolitionist models. more

Get Schooled amplifies and elevates the stories and voices of students so that they can have agency in our education system. Get Schooled is a youth-led podcast produced by the Kentucky Student Voice Team, a statewide organization of young people co-creating more just, democratic Kentucky schools and communities as research, policy and advocacy partners. Find more from us at ksvt.org. more